Notice of Upcoming Indigenous Research Funding Opportunities

March 21, 2025

Canada’s three federal research funding agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada—are pleased to announce the following upcoming funding opportunities for Indigenous-led research, open for applications by summer 2025:

• Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants (for First Nations and Métis)
• Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants (for First Nations and Métis)
• Inuit Research Network Grant (Phase 3)

In Budget 2024, the federal government committed $30 million to support and increase Indigenous participation in research. In this context, the three federal research funding agencies have sought to co-develop, through engagement with Indigenous research partners, new funding opportunities committed to Indigenous self-determination, the decolonization of research, and more equitable access and support for Indigenous organizations and researchers.

The grants aim to respond to the following strategic directions of the Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada strategy:

• Building relationships with Inuit, First Nations and Métis Peoples
• Supporting the research priorities of Indigenous Peoples
• Championing Indigenous leadership, self-determination and capacity in research
• Creating greater funding accessibility to granting agency programs

The Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants for First Nations and Métis will fund activities to engage with and exchange knowledge that contribute to holistic, interdisciplinary and distinctions-based approaches.

The Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants for First Nations and Métis will fund new networks for Indigenous-led research that support Indigenous research methodologies and knowledge systems.

Budget 2024’s distinctions-based funding will also enhance the Inuit Research Network (IRN), established in 2022, with funding provided by CIHR. The new funding will allow the IRN to expand beyond health to include natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities research. Phase 3 of the IRN will build on the network’s current research activities and on the National Inuit Strategy on Research to enhance Inuit capacity, knowledge and self-determination in research within and beyond Inuit Nunangat. This will be done in partnership with the four Inuit regions and their respective land claims organizations, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Makivik Corporation and the Nunatsiavut Government.

The application deadlines and full eligibility requirements for each of these new funding opportunities will be announced by summer 2025, in alignment with the final approval of funding availability.

For more information on the Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants, contact partnerships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

For more information on the Network Grants, contact Indigenous-Autochtone@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

For more information on the Inuit Research Network, contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

NT5